244 
MADAGASCAR. 
partly due to its exquisite situation and partly to 
the handsome proportion of the state buildings, 
which have of late been erected upon its heights. 
There is nothing of that air of unsavoury tawdri¬ 
ness about the Hova capital which mars the 
attractiveness of most Eastern towns; and when 
the streets are thronged by courteous crowds of 
well-conducted and nicely dressed natives on a 
holiday, I know of no scene which presents so 
many points of interest. The extreme cleanliness 
of even the poorest slaves, both in their personal 
habits and attire, is very refreshing, and is a char¬ 
acteristic of the island which has gone very far 
to elevate the people in the eyes of casual visitors 
as well as in the estimation of those who have 
resided amongst them for lengthened periods. 
The roads into the city are extremely tor¬ 
tuous, but when once access has been gained 
to the upper terraces and gardens, the views 
on all sides across the verdant plains of the 
central province, and away towards the blue 
peaks of the Ankaratra range, or northward in 
the direction of the sacred city of Ambohimanga, 
are simply grand. The bright sun, the bracing 
temperature, and the genial atmosphere, with the 
strange animation and merry laughter of the 
passing crowds, the respectful greetings which 
are most carefully tendered on all sides to their 
superiors in rank by the Malagasy, and the rapid 
